In memory of fallen heroes (comic book edition)

[MajorHoy]

Since tomorrow will be Memorial Day here in the U.S., I thought it might be fitting to discuss superhero deaths that people may remember from when they first began reading comic books.

Back when I started reading comic books regularly, they weren't constantly killing off heroes left and right . . . superhero deaths were a little more meaningful.

When I first started reading Justice League of America, it was during the JLA/JSA crossover where they brought back The Seven Soldiers of Victory. That story revealed that Wing, the partner of the Crimson Avenger, had been killed trying to stop a menace to the world, and it also appeared the Red Tornado died at the end of issue 102.



(Turns out that he was alive again a few issues later . . . instead of being killed, he was just thrown into the Multiverse and landed severly injured on Earth-1.)

Towards the end of the 1970's, two other members of the JSA were killed off . . . the Earth-2 Batman


and Mister Terrific.


Anyone else care to share some early superhero deaths they remember from when they first started reading?

(And Happy Memorial Day . . . especially to anyone who served in the military or lost a loved one in a war.)

[Guicho]

First great death I remember reading....

Soljer's private war, the life and death, and "life" and death of Private Essad.
I'm surprised nobody has brought this guy back, great name, costume, a heroic fallen soldier (died saving his troop), tragically turned cosmic energy zombie. Is he actually dead, or still more "alive" than anyone and just thinks he's dead? Unstoppable, with an unlimited arsenal of phantom energy weapons.

And the last great death i remember reading...

If you don't know the scene that follows, do yourself a favor and read The New Frontier.
There's a couple of other good ones in that book.

[Kurosawa]

Ferro Lad from the Legion. He had been dead for a few years when I started reading.

The Top from the Flash. Villain, yes, but his death had meaning and his character had depth.

They kill too many characters-characters dying should be very, very rare, should be a huge part of a great story, and should be final. And if a death is to be undone, then the return story has to be at least as good as the story where they died. That's why Bucky's return worked and Jason Todd's didn't. And it's why Jean Grey should have been the Phoenix and should have stayed dead after Uncanny X-Men #137.

[Jadenewt]

Death of the Unknown Soldier.



Death of Lightning Lad



Death of Ferro Lad

[Yttrium]

The first Legionnaire whose death I remember reading (outside of reprints of old comics) was Chemical King.

[The Steve Rogers]

Jason Todd would have to be the DC character that comes to mind. His death was probably the first DC character that had an impact on me.

[md62]

The deaths in the first Crisis series (1985).

[neverender]

I haven't been reading comic books for very long, just over a year, but here are some that are significant to me.

Jason Todd (A Death in The Family)


Barry Allen (CoIE)


Superman (The Death of Superman)

[MajorHoy]

Barry Allen (CoIE)

Well, if you're going to bring up Barry's death in CoIE, . . .

[JSA]

Kal - L dead.

Let's pretend Infinite Crisis never happened

[Kurosawa]

Kal - L dead.

Let's pretend Infinite Crisis never happened

I disregard everything past 1980 or so, so to me Kal-L is still alive, still on Earth-Two (the real one) and still with the JSA.

[Brother Justin Crowe]

[ArnoldoAAD]

first DC comic i read and first death too